Sexual History and Gender-Affirming Care Taking a Sexual History

• A sexual history should be taken during initial and subsequent primary care visits, preventive exams, or when signs or symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) are present as part of the routine medical examination.

• Providers should discuss: partners (number and gender identity), types of sexual practices, use of protection from STIs, history of previous STIs, and pregnancy preferences.

• Providers should use inclusive language without making assumptions. An example opening line is, “What are the genders of your sexual partners?”